Director of Rehabilitation Services

Job Summary

The Director of Rehabilitation Services provides strategic, operational, clinical, and financial leadership for the Rehabilitation Services Department, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services. The Director is responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered rehabilitation services while maintaining compliance with all applicable federal, state, and accreditation standards.

The Director oversees daily department operations, personnel management, quality improvement, budget development, productivity, regulatory compliance, and service line growth. Working collaboratively with physicians, nursing, case management, and other clinical departments, the Director promotes exceptional patient outcomes, operational excellence, and organizational success. The Director may also provide direct patient care consistent with licensure and departmental needs.

Essential Functions

• Provide strategic, operational, and clinical leadership for the Rehabilitation Services Department, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services.
• Direct the daily operations of the department to ensure safe, efficient, high-quality, and patient-centered care.
• Recruit, hire, develop, supervise, coach, and evaluate department personnel while promoting employee engagement, accountability, and professional growth.
• Develop, implement, and monitor departmental goals, policies, procedures, and performance measures that align with the organization's mission, strategic plan, and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, accreditation, licensing, and payer regulations, including CMS, CIHQ, HIPAA, OSHA, and New Mexico practice acts.
• Oversee departmental quality improvement initiatives by monitoring patient outcomes, patient satisfaction, productivity, and operational performance, implementing corrective actions as needed.
• Develop, manage, and monitor departmental operating and capital budgets, ensuring responsible stewardship of financial and physical resources.
• Ensure accurate clinical documentation, charge capture, and revenue cycle practices that support appropriate reimbursement and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with physicians, nursing, case management, and other departments to promote coordinated, interdisciplinary patient care and efficient transitions of care.
• Promote evidence-based rehabilitation practices and ensure staff maintain required competencies, licensure, certifications, and continuing education.
• Identify opportunities to improve access to rehabilitation services, enhance operational efficiency, and support growth of rehabilitation programs and community outreach initiatives.
• Maintain a safe environment for patients, visitors, and staff by promoting quality, patient safety, infection prevention, and emergency preparedness.
• Serve as a member of the hospital leadership team by participating in committees, strategic initiatives, organizational planning, and performance improvement activities.
• Provide direct patient care, as appropriate, based on departmental needs and within the scope of professional licensure.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support departmental and organizational objectives. Comply with federal, state, and local legal and professional requirements by studying existing and new legislation, anticipating future legislation, enforcing adherence to requirements, advising management on needed actions.
• Contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

Non-Essential Functions

• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Participate in special projects and organizational initiatives.

Professional Requirements

• Adhere to dress code, appearance is neat and clean.
• Complete annual education requirements.
• Always maintain patient confidentiality.
• Report to work on time and as scheduled.
• Wear identification while on duty.
• Maintain regulatory requirements, including all state, federal and local regulations.
• Always represent the organization in a positive and professional manner.
• Comply with all organizational policies and standards regarding ethical business practices.
• Communicate the mission, ethics, and goals of the organization.
• Participate in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement activities.
• Attend regular staff meetings and in-services.

Qualifications

Required

• Current unrestricted New Mexico licensure as a Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, or Speech-Language Pathologist.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited rehabilitation program.
• Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible clinical rehabilitation experience.
• Minimum three (3) years of supervisory or leadership experience in a healthcare setting.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.

Preferred

• Master's or doctoral degree.
• Experience in hospital-based rehabilitation services.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services.
• Knowledge of hospital operations, accreditation standards, and healthcare regulations.
• Knowledge of budgeting, financial management, and productivity analysis.
• Strong leadership, coaching, mentoring, and team-building skills.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to interpret and analyze operational, financial, and quality data.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across departments.
• Strong customer service and patient experience focus.
• Proficiency with electronic medical records and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality.

Physical Requirements and Environmental Conditions

• Primarily performed in a healthcare environment with both administrative and clinical responsibilities.
• Frequent sitting, standing, walking, bending, reaching, and computer use.
• Occasional lifting, transferring, positioning, or assisting patients consistent with clinical responsibilities.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Exposure to bloodborne pathogens, communicable diseases, cleaning chemicals, and other hospital environmental hazards.
• May require occasional evening, weekend, holiday, or on-call responsibilities based on operational needs.